Thursday, 17 October 2024

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:27): (698) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture in the other place. Last month, in response to an adjournment I raised on the outbreak of avian influenza in Victoria, the minister confirmed the use of firefighting foam on one farm to kill birds. Using foam to suffocate birds to their deaths is absolutely barbaric, especially so for ducks, who can hold their breath and are then left to die a slow, agonising death by heat stroke or organ failure. Can the minister confirm what species and quantity of birds were killed using the foam method?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:28): I thank Ms Purcell for her question, and I will take the opportunity to thank Minister Spence and the department of agriculture for their amazing response to the avian influenza concerns in the state of Victoria. That has now been contained for the time being, but the threat remains active. In my former role when I was agriculture minister, I was also involved in an avian influenza outbreak. It is an incredibly distressing period and a challenging time for the department when you have to embark on eradication of species. When I was involved, it involved chickens, turkeys and emus, and it was incredibly challenging to listen to the options of what had to be done for the benefit of containment of a disease that would be catastrophic for both native and domestic bird species. I probably should not be answering this, but I know about it. The information from the chief vet and the experts goes to all of the potential opportunities or the methods that are best for each species to bring about the most humane end or death. But given your very specific question in relation to the latest outbreak, for which I was not the responsible minister, I will let Minister Spence provide you with that detail. But I have had some experience, so I wanted to share that with you.

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:29): Thank you, Attorney, for referring that on. I should note it is not because it is the recommended method but because we have a CO₂ shortage that has not been addressed. The minister’s response stated that foam depopulation units were assessed as appropriate for use on one property, with consideration given to the layout of the shed and timeliness, and this response came on the same week that the federal government announced a ban on forever chemicals, including PFAS. What animal welfare and environmental impacts were considered in the decision to use PFAS?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:30): I thank Ms Purcell for her supplementary question. A lot of considerations go into these decisions, and I am sure that Minister Spence will be able to give you a more detailed answer than the comments I have made.